Job Description
Company Overview
Price Benowitz LLP is a mid-sized law firm headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices and attorneys throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina. Our practice areas include Criminal Defense, Family Law, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Trusts & Estates, and more.
Guided by our core values of Passion, Integrity, and Excellence, we are committed to delivering exceptional legal services while fostering a collaborative, accountable, and supportive workplace.
Position Summary
Price Benowitz LLP is seeking an experienced Managing Criminal Defense Paralegal to join our Criminal Defense practice. This is a fully remote, hands-on leadership position for an accomplished criminal defense paralegal who combines substantial federal criminal defense experience with demonstrated experience managing and developing legal support staff.
Federal criminal defense experience is required for this position. Candidates must have substantive experience supporting federal criminal matters and a strong working knowledge of federal criminal court procedures, filings, discovery, deadlines, and litigation practices. Washington, DC experience is not required.
We are also specifically seeking a candidate with a strong and stable employment history in permanent paralegal positions and demonstrated progression in responsibility. Candidates whose recent work history consists primarily of contract, temporary, project-based, or short-term assignments will not be considered for this managing-level position.
The successful candidate will be an experienced criminal defense professional who can independently handle sophisticated federal criminal matters while providing leadership, direction, accountability, and support to the Criminal Defense staff team.
Responsibilities
- Manage and coordinate the Criminal Defense paralegal and support staff team, including workflow, assignments, priorities, performance, and deadlines.
- Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance, mentoring, and accountability to Criminal Defense support staff.
- Provide hands-on paralegal support to attorneys handling complex federal and other criminal defense matters.
- Manage criminal cases throughout the litigation lifecycle, from intake and investigation through hearings, trial preparation, sentencing, and post-trial matters.
- Draft, review, and prepare motions, pleadings, correspondence, subpoenas, discovery-related documents, and other legal filings.
- Prepare and electronically file documents in federal courts while ensuring compliance with applicable rules, procedures, and deadlines.
- Coordinate and manage discovery, including reviewing, organizing, summarizing, and maintaining large volumes of records, reports, video, audio, and other evidence.
- Maintain attorney calendars and track court appearances, filing deadlines, hearings, trials, client meetings, and other critical dates.
- Communicate professionally and compassionately with clients and their families regarding case status, documentation, scheduling, and other case-related matters.
- Coordinate with attorneys, investigators, experts, court personnel, government agencies, and other parties as necessary.
- Prepare hearing and trial materials, exhibits, witness files, attorney notebooks, and other litigation support materials.
- Monitor case progress and proactively identify outstanding tasks, approaching deadlines, and potential issues.
- Maintain accurate, organized, and up-to-date electronic case files.
- Train, mentor, and support Criminal Defense staff while helping establish consistent processes and high standards across the team.
- Accurately record billable time and assist with other case management and administrative responsibilities as needed.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 3 years of substantive criminal defense paralegal experience, with more extensive experience strongly preferred for this managing-level position.
- Substantive federal criminal defense paralegal experience is required. Candidates without federal criminal defense experience will not be considered.
- Strong knowledge of federal criminal court procedures, electronic filing requirements, discovery, deadlines, and litigation practices.
- Prior management experience is required, including experience directly supervising, leading, mentoring, and providing day-to-day direction to paralegals or legal support staff.
- Strong and stable employment history in permanent paralegal positions, demonstrating sustained responsibility, reliability, professional growth, and commitment to prior employers.
- Candidates whose recent experience consists primarily of contract, temporary, project-based, or short-term assignments will not be considered.
- Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex criminal matters and anticipate attorney and case needs.
- Excellent legal drafting, proofreading, organizational, and case management skills.
- Strong experience managing complex discovery and preparing matters for hearings and trial.
- Ability to prioritize multiple active cases and competing deadlines in a fast-paced remote environment.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
- High degree of professionalism, discretion, sound judgment, accountability, and client service.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, legal case management systems, federal electronic court filing systems, and related legal technology.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively manage and communicate with a team in a fully remote environment.
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for a seasoned criminal defense paralegal with substantial federal criminal defense experience, demonstrated management experience, and a strong, stable career history.
This is not an entry-level management opportunity. The successful candidate will have already developed the substantive expertise and leadership skills necessary to oversee legal support staff while remaining actively involved in complex criminal defense casework.
We are specifically seeking someone who has developed their expertise through sustained employment in permanent paralegal roles with increasing levels of responsibility. Professional stability, reliability, and long-term commitment to prior employers will be important considerations in our selection process.
The successful candidate is proactive and takes ownership of their work. They anticipate what attorneys and cases need, identify potential problems before they arise, follow through independently, and ensure matters continue moving forward.
As a manager, this individual must be comfortable leading staff, establishing priorities, delegating work, monitoring performance, mentoring team members, maintaining accountability, and serving as a knowledgeable resource for the Criminal Defense team.
Candidates should understand that the three most important qualifications for this position are:
- Substantive federal criminal defense experience
- Demonstrated management experience
- A strong and stable history of permanent employment
Candidates who do not meet these core requirements will not be considered.
Schedule & Location
- Fully remote position
- Full-time
- Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM Eastern Time
- Candidates must be able to consistently work Eastern Time business hours.
- Washington, DC experience is not required.
Compensation
$31–$43/hour, depending on experience, qualifications, federal criminal defense background, and management experience.
Additional Information
Price Benowitz LLP offers a comprehensive benefits package, including employer-supported medical, dental, and vision insurance, mental health support, disability and life insurance, and other benefits available to eligible employees.
Price Benowitz LLP is an equal opportunity employer and values professionals who share our commitment to Passion, Integrity, and Excellence.
